Method of sealing bottles and the like.



L. P. MIDDLETON.

METHOD OF SEALING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY I2, I9I8.

1,294 82. Patented Feb. 18,1919.

A TTORNEY LEE FENDER MIDDLETON, OF ROSEVILLE, CALIFORNIA.

METHOD OF SEALING BOTTLES AND THE LIKE.

'raeasao.

Specification ofLetters Patent.

Patented Feb. 18, 1919..

Application filed July 12, 1918. Serial No. 244,514.

T 0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Len FENDER MIDDLE- TON, a citizen of the United States, residing at Roseville, in the county of Placer, State of California, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Methods of Sealing Bottles and the like; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this application.

This invention relates to improvements in methods of sealing bottles and jars, especially those containing perishable food products such as fruit preserves, fruit juices and the like, the principal object being to produce a device by the use of which and with the aid of an ordinary vacuum pump such bottles and jars may be sealed in an absolutely air tight manner and without the need of cooking the fruit etc., before sealing While I am aware that the'principle of vacuum sealing is old, I believe I have utilized this principle in a way novel to the art.

A further object of the invention has been to produce a device for the operation of my improved method which may be readily installed on farms, etc, so .that much of the fruit usually wasted may bepreserved indefinitely at a trifling expense.

As a third object, I have invented a method which will be inexpensive to'employ and yet give extremely satisfactory results.

These objects I accomplish by means of such structure and relative arrangement of parts as will fully appear by a perusal of the following specification and claim.

On the drawings similar characters of reference indicate corresponding parts in the several views.

Figure l is a front view partly in section, showing the device used for the sealing of bottles.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a bottle cap to be used with my improved method.

Referring now more particularly to the figures of reference on the drawings, the numeral 1 represents a casing of any suitable shape, which may be constructed of glass or metal as preferred. This casing has lugs 2 on the sides to adapt it to be screwed to the wall of a room.

The bottom of the casing is provided with a circular orifice 3 of such a diameter as to permit of theneck of a .bottle 4 passing therethrough, but not the body.

A circular flange 5 extends downwardly from the bottom of the casing of larger diameter than the orifice 3 to receive and hold a rubber ring or washer 6, whose inner edge overlaps the orifice 3.

Centrally positioned in the top of the casing 1 with regard to the orifice 3 therein is a drilled boss 7 in which is slidably mounted arod 8. Airtightness is assuredby the stud vacuum pump and tank (not shown) in which pipe a suitable valve 1 1 is interposed near the casing 1, such valve being so constructed as to permit air being drawn out of the casing through the pipe 13 in one position, and permitting air being let into the casing from the outside in the other position of the valve.

A suitable vacuum gage 15 .is connected with the casing 1 at any desired point.

- The bottlecap to be used in connection with this method is a tin or zinc 16 pref.- erably pressed out in the shape as shown having a rubber washer 17 seated in the groove of the cap and adapted to bear against the top edge of the bottle.

In operation, the bottle to be sealed is inserted in the orifice 3 and held tightly against the rubber ring 6, with the cap 16' loosely in place on top of the bottle. The magnet 12 will attract the cap and hold the same. The valve 14 is then turned so that all the air will 'be drawn out of the casing 1. When the desired vacuum has been attained, as can be we I renwved b puneturieg the semethus e5 miesing air.

mm the feregoing @escriptien it "W511 as readily seen the I have g'redueed such a device-as substantially fuifiis the object of file inve'ntien as set fefth herein While have described my meihed' h device used in eonneceien therewith as anpiicable only =50 a bowie i: will be readily L s en that 2. miner changes in ehe ailesign will adapt the same t0 be used etc. the only essential feature being in or 21 L a as ceurse brass e1" ca 5 would be attracted to the Hevig time fieseribed Y 7 i e eenne-esed with suitabie air exhaustmp" means and prevlded Wlth a gasketeci en- (3 I fine 21 the eo'btem tnereef for the recep'blen ef -he body 01 a beetle 0r jar therem, a

spring pulled z'odsiidably mounted in the upper end of the retort, central of the onfiee,

uspended Hem ehe magnet will easily e tile 01' gar mthoue 11eexae'tiy central- 1 115 512: my signature 

